SkyValue adds L.A. flight from Gary airport (http://www.post-trib.com/business/180195,skyvalue.article) December 21, 2006 BY JIM STINSON Post-Tribune SkyValue USA has been hearing one thing since beginning service on Dec. 15: "I love L.A." The new, Gary-based commercial passenger airline decided to add Los Angeles to its destinations after poor reservation numbers for Fort Lauderdale led to dropping that South Florida city. With new capacity, the airline may fly into reliever airports near Los Angeles International Airport, including Ontario International Airport and the Bob Hope Burbank Airport, according to Darrell Richardson, chief executive officer of C First Class Corp., the parent company of SkyValue. The flights would originate from Gary/Chicago International Airport, but stop in Mesa, Ariz.'s Gateway Williams Airport before heading to the Los Angeles area airport. Richardson said there is some demand in Northwest Indiana and Chicago for a Gary-to-Los Angeles flight, but demand to Los Angeles jumps when Mesa is factored in. After the first week of business, Richardson said he received many inquiries about why the airline didn't continue on from Mesa-Phoenix to Los Angeles. Richardson said there are many business fliers who would only use the Mesa-to-Los Angeles leg. But around the same time, it became apparent that one of the five SkyValue legs was failing. "We shouldn't have ever flown out of Fort Lauderdale to begin with," said Richardson, who added Chicago airports probably had a lock on that market. Richardson said the Dec. 18 flight to and from Fort Lauderdale had but two passengers. The flight was canceled, and passengers were given a refund and free tickets to other destinations. Richardson said March and April are running very busy, and there are some flights to Mesa-Phoenix which have sold out. SkyValue also offers flights to Orlando, Fla., St. Petersburg, Fla., and Las Vegas. Ray Gomez, owner of Ae'rea Travels Cruises and Tours Inc. of Chicago, said pre-Christmas is a challenge. "It's kind of hard with the holidays," said Gomez, of Dyer. But Gomez said he believes SkyValue's flights to Mesa and Las Vegas will see more success. SkyValue will decide in 2007 if it will extend its contract with Elko, Nev.-based Xtra Airways, its airplane and flight-staff supplier. Richardson said it is too early to tell if he will ask Xtra to extend its service past April 2007. Contact Jim Stinson at 648-3076 or jstinson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx